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Common shoulder problems include the following:

Rotator cuff tear - A rotator cuff tear involves one or more rotator cuff tendons becoming inflamed from overuse, aging, a fall on an outstretched hand, or a collision.
Impingement syndrome -. The pain associated with the syndrome is a result of an inflamed bursa (lubricating sac) over the rotator cuff, and/or inflammation of the rotator cuff tendons, and/or calcium deposits in tendons due to wear and tear.
Frozen shoulder is a severely restrictive condition frequently caused by injury that, in turn, leads to lack of use due to pain.
Dislocation - The shoulder joint is the most frequently dislocated major joint of the body - often caused by a significant force that separates the shoulder joint's ball (the top rounded portion of the upper arm bone, or humerus) away from the joint's socket (glenoid).
Separation - The shoulder becomes separated when the ligaments attached to the collarbone (clavicle) are torn, or partially torn, away from the shoulder blade (scapula). Shoulder separation may be caused by a sudden, forceful blow to the shoulder, or as a result of a fall.
Burstis often occurs when tendonitis and impingement syndrome cause inflammation of the bursa sacs that protect the shoulder.
Tendonitis of the shoulder is caused when the rotator cuff and/or biceps tendon become inflamed, usually as a result of being pinched by surrounding structures. The injury may vary from mild inflammation to involvement of most of the rotator cuff. When the rotator cuff tendon becomes inflamed and thickened, it may become trapped under the acromion.
The shoulder is the most mobile joint in the human body. The joint includes four tendons, known as the "rotator cuff" tendons. The purpose of a tendon is to hold muscle to bone. Together, these four tendons stabilize the upper arm bone to the shoulder socket and allow the wide range of motion in the shoulder.

Any swelling, inflammation, tearing, or bony changes around these tendons causes pain when a person tries to move the arm above the head, behind the back, or straight out in front.

Impingement syndrome is caused by the excessive squeezing or rubbing of the rotator cuff and shoulder blade. It can lead to a torn rotator cuff.
Frozen shoulder may cause inflammation and adhesions to grow between the joint surfaces, thus restricting motion. There is also a lack of synovial fluid to lubricate the gap between the arm bone and socket that normally helps the shoulder joint to move. This restricted space between the capsule and ball of the humerus distinguishes adhesive capsulitis from the less complicated condition known as stiff shoulder.

 
The shoulder is made up of several layers, including the following:

Bones - the collarbone (clavicle), the shoulder blade (scapula), and the upper arm bone (humerus).
Joints - facilitate movement.
ligaments - a white, shiny, flexible band of fibrous tissue that binds joints together and connects various bones and cartilage.
Acromion - the roof (highest point) of the shoulder that is formed by a part of the scapula.
Tendons - the tough cords of tissue that connect muscles to bones. The rotator cuff tendons are a group of tendons that connect the deepest layer of muscles to the humerus.
Muscles - to help support and rotate the shoulder in many directions
Bursa - a closed space between two moving surfaces that has a small amount of lubricating fluid inside; located between the rotator cuff muscle layer and the outer layer of large, bulky muscles.
Shoulder Pain: Natural Pain Management By Alternative Medicine Doctors & Pain Relief Therapies.
...alternative medicine professionals offer shoulder pain sufferers the option of natural pain management and relief therapies without the risks of surgical and pharmaceutical approaches....
Randomised trial of long term effect of acupuncture for shoulder pain
...The acupuncture group had consistently better results in every secondary outcome measure than the control group. Acupuncture is an effective long-term treatment for patients with shoulder pain ...
Acupuncture for Soft Tissue Shoulder Disorders: A Series of 201 Cases
...treatment of soft tissue shoulder disorders with acupuncture and moxibustion in this series seems to have good clinical results in diminishing symptoms, shortening disease duration time and improving functional ability, even in long-lasting disease ...
Effect of acupuncture treatment on chronic neck and shoulder pain in sedentary female workers: a 6-month and 3-year follow-up study
...Adequate acupuncture treatment may reduce chronic pain in the neck and shoulders and related headache...
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